More Post Cards From Texas

Post Cards from Texas

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dominicspics/ CC BY 2.0

I said earlier that I was going to send out a couple more postcards...hand picked from the people who left comments on my OWOH post.  Well, I've choosen the next too...but this will not be all.  While I'm not going to try to write all the people who commented, 3 postcards just seems like too little.  So, I'll be sending postcards out to a few more after this, but as it may be a bit before I get to a store to buy them, I'll save on announcing until I actually have the cards to send.  Otherwise I'm likely to just loose track of who I was going to write.

Anyways, my next two people I choose because they offered to send me one back!  Tess from Kansus offered in her comment to return the favor.  I discovered on her blog, The Heart of Words, that she loves poetry...so I plan to send a little poem with her card too. The other person didn't offer on in her comment, but when I visited her blog, coincidentally named Postcards from Miss Igorota, I noticed she was offering free post cards from New Jersey there...which made me want to return the generosity (though I wish I had a postcard from California to send her since she's already visited Texas).

NOTE: The post card image is from a picture I found on Flicr and doctored up (with permission - love Creative Commons!).

One World One Heart Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who made such nice comments on my OWOH post!  The winner of my modest prize of a Texas postcard was...

Gale Varland!

Not only does she share my name, but she spells it the same way as I do, which is rare.   Not only that but our parents were both thinking of the word's meaning, storm on the sea, when they named us.  My parents named me Gale because we lived on a boat then and they wanted to name me something nautical.  Gale Varland's parents named her that after a huge storm hit the town she was born in.   If you like, visit  her blog - she makes super cute cards which she posts pictures of there.  

Now, I bought a couple extra cards so I could hand pick a couple other people to send cards to...and now I wish I had bought more!  Might have to jsut  go out and get some.  But, anyways, since I only promised one for the giveaway I don't have to announce the hand picked ones today.  It's late...so I'll let you all know who else I chose soon in the next few days.

Oh, by the way...the post card is not the one at top left, just a regular Texas postcard...although it will have wildflowers on it.  The one at left is by David G. Paul, a fellow artist at Zazzle.  I just thought it fit the occasion.  :-)

California and Texas OWOH Giveaways

I've been having fun browsing the all the blogs participating in One World One Heart.  Its a fun even where bloggers tell a little big about themselves and give out door prizes.  If you're a blogger and want to join in, you have until Feb 12th to add your site.  If you're not a blogger, some of the sites (like mine) allow non-bloggers to enter the giveaways (which all end Feb 17th) and some are open to active bloggers only. 

There were a few giveaways I've stumbled on I thought Texans and Californians might enjoy.  The Creators Palette is giving away, among other things, a set of cards including one with California Poppies on it.

The Artist Supply Company is giving away a lotion bar in the shape of Texas, among other things.  

For those of you homesick for the ocean, Summerland Cottage is giving away a beautiful painting of the ocean at Laguna Beach, California.  And Jullie Miller Glass is giving away a Sea glass pendant.

Book Smith Studio has turned a path in Bryan, Texas into it's own planet, and is giving away a print.

And Barbara Cagle is giving away another copy of her book 16 x Mom, a true story about a woman who raised 16 children in the heart of San Jose, California, chronicling over 100 years of California history.

The blogger at Two Tumbleweeds spends half the year in Texas, and half the year in Holland...but she's not telling what the watercolor painting she's giving away will be of. 

And while A Little Blue Sky's giveaway isn't particularly "Californian" but I enjoyed hearing from someone from the Inland Empire, and she has some great California photos on her post (and a link to a funny story about the travails of putting on wet-suits).

Those are just a few California and Texas ones.  But  One World, One Heart has bloggers from all around the world.  So fun to explore!

An Idea...Traveling the World by Blog

Hello all! Happy New Year if you're visiting from Asia! I've been enjoying participating in One World One Heart the last few days, and am sad to learn that this will be the last year that Lisa Swifka will be holding this event. This is my second year to participate, and I've enjoyed it so much. (You can click here to see my One World post for this year.)

I thought this might be a good time to share an idea that's been germinating since last years event. I thought it would be cool to try something similar, maybe in summer, that focused on the places we live and love. A blogging event where we share about where we live, or where we used to live, or someplace else we've been...and offer a small souvenir from there (wouldn't have to be something big...something like a postcard would do).

I would like some help though. Of course, I'll need people to participate and people to help me get the word out. If you think you might be interested, please leave your e-mail or blog url below so I can be in contact with you, or e-mail me at ecarian at yahoo dot com

Also, My dad is not in good health, and I know I could be called back to California at any time if something happens with his situation. So, I would like to partner with someone else who could possibly take over if need be.

One World One Heart (Giveaway Closed)

Welcome to One World One Heart and Texifornia!

One World One Heart is a fun event where bloggers around the world post giveaways and share a little bit about themselves!  If you still want to join in, you can until Feb 12.  Find out how here.

Sadly I hear this is the final One World, One Heart!  I've had so much fun the last two years I've participate!  I have been pondering over an idea for a similar type of adventure and if you might like to ponder with me me please visit my post here.

Now, about me and Texifornia...

Texifornia is a little spot I created for Californians living in Texas (like me)

Publish Post

and Texans in California, and anyone else who'd like to stop for a visit.I try to post news, humor and other tid-bits about California and Texas (and especially anything that relates to BOTH states) but lately on the blog I've mainly been posting pictures of wildflowers and sunsets.

Since many of you are traveling in from other places, let me share a little bit about California and Texas with you.

Texas is the biggest state in the US other than Alaska.  And people here are proud of their state...in no other state that I know of will you find everything from swimming pools to waffles made in the state shape.

 

1. A Texan Birdfeeder, 2. Texas-Shaped Grill, 

3. Texas Waffle 4. Texas Brick

Texas is hot in summer (days and days over 100 degrees) and bleak in winter (dead grass not often covered by snow, which is rare here).

Picture by Jollyville

But what it lacks in winter snow it makes up for in Spring wildflowers...


Picture by Malloy


Picture by Ruthie On Art

Californians, on the other hand, don't tend to brag as much about their state....at least until they leave it and realize what they missed!  California has just about as much beauty as nature can offer:  mountains, deserts, forests, and of course, beaches.

Picture by Peggy Farnsworth, My Mom

Picture by MLH Radio

Picture by Me!

And California has wildflowers too!

Picture by Daniel Peckham

So, from wherever around the world today, Hello and welcome to Texifornia!

And, now...on to the giveaway.  It's small, but fun!  Just like last year, I'm giving away:











A Post Card from From Texas (From Me)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dominicspics/ CC BY 2.0

No, this isn't the actual one you'll get. It's a picture I found on Flicr and doctored up (with permission - love Creative Commons!).  The real one will be a surprise (don't you just love surprises)!   And, like last year, I'll pick one person at random and probably send a few more postcards...just because.



I know this isn't a big prize, but the main idea of the of the One World One Heart  is to explore and meet some fun people around the world...the giveaways are just a good excuse to do that.



TO ENTER
Leave a comment below.  Pretty simple.  If you don't know what to say, just tell me where you're from.  :-)  Make sure to include an e-mail or a link to your blog so I can contact you.

RULES
Anyone can participate, worldwide. Giveaway ends February 17th at a9ish (pm, CST).   Prize might possibly be forfeited if you wait more than a month to claim it, and definately will if you don't leave a way to contact me.

My Other OWOH Posts
(on my other blogs)

Scribbleprints
 
Such Fun to Give

Magic Carpet Giveaway

WINNER CHOSEN - CONGRATS MELISSA

---

Hello and welcome to Texifornia! If you're coming here by carpet ride you may be wondering what strange place the magic carpet has brought you! Let me introduce myself and show you around a little.

I am a mother of three little boys who moved to Texas from California long before any of those three little boys were born. I was homesick as crazy at first, and had a lot of trouble with the culture shock....which is how Texifornia came about.

Texifornia is a little spot I created for Californians in Texas (like me) and Texans in California. It's a place where you can find news, humor and other tid-bits about California and Texas (and especially anything that relates to BOTH states) and meet other Texifornians. This blog is just part of it...there's graphics and jokes and more on the main site.

So, from wherever around the world today, Hello and welcome to Texifornia! And, now...on the the giveaway:

I am giving away one of the following (your choice):

A Post Card from From Texas (From Me)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dominicspics/ CC BY 2.0

No, this isn't the actual one you'll get. It's a picture I found on Flicr and doctored up (with permission - love Creative Commons!). The real one I haven't bought yet, but it will most likely have one of the following on it: Wildflowers, The Texas State Flag, A Cowboy and a Sunset, or Cows (specifically Long Horns). Note also that my real handwriting looks better...that's mousedrawn and blurred to look like pencil using the Gimp. Cool huh!

...or you could have:
A Free Coupon for a Large Tea at Bush's Chicken

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevharb/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Again, I didn't have a picture of the coupon, so here's a picture of tea...ICED TEA of course, for anyone who lives outside of Texas and therefor might think the tea was hot. In Texas, you can order tea when it's 20 degrees out and it will come served with ice unless you specify otherwise. I don't think Bush's Chicken even serves hot tea. But, anyways, Bush's Chicken can't be found worldwide, which is why I'm giving everyone a choice between that and the post-card. If anyone wonders, Bush's chicken was started by a football player named Keith Bush...and as far as I know has nothing to do with the former presidents George Bush (Jr. or Sr.). It was however, started in the town I'm living in, Waco, TX...which is practically shouting distance from Crawford, TX, where former President George W. Bush still lives.


I know these aren't big prizes, but the main idea of the of the One World One Heart Giveways is to explore and meet some fun people around the world...the giveaways are just a good excuse to do that.

TO ENTER
Leave a comment below saying where you're from, where you are now, and where you've been in between! Or, if you rather (and this would make my day) make up a crazy word for where you've lived (for instance, I'm a Texifornian...you might be an Carolinayorker, or a Canadimarican, or you might be from Oklahio.) Make sure to leave an e-mail where I can contact you ( myemail at hotmail dot com is a good way to do it to avoid spam-bots ). And if you happen to have a blog or website, please leave your link so I can visit! After all, this whole things is about exploring! You can let me know whether you wanted the tea or the post-card after you win.

RULES
Anyone can participate, worldwide. Giveaway ends the last day of February 14th (formerly I had said the 31st, but there is no Feb 31st, and as it turns out we are supposed to announce all these on the 15th, which is a little detail I missed. Thanks Birgit of Swapping Howdies for pointing that out. Honestly, it wasn't a sneaky way to make this giveaway go on forever, just me being my absentminded self. ) Winner will be chosen the by random number generator (or, if there are less than ten entries, by my son picking a number out of a hat). The winner forfeits their prize if they don't provide a working e-mail or if they don't respond to my e-mail within 1 week.

MY OTHER GIVEAWAYS
Here are some other giveaways on my blogs you might be interested in (not all of these are OWOH giveaways, so read rules carefully and watch for hoops - easy hoops, I promise!):

• Large Scribbleprint Magnet (At Scribbleprints - OWOH #953) - 2/14
  
• Poetry Magnet & Honey Shea Soap (At Scribbleprints) - 2/14
• Shamrock Giveaway (At Scribbleprints) - 3/3